Tricycle guider



Aug. 15, 1967 2. PAPUCKI THICYCLE GUIDER Filed June 8, [1965 I/YVfNm ZDZIS LAW PAPUCKI United States Patent 3,336,048 TRICYCLE GUIDER Zdzislaw Papucki, 700 Maude Road, Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada Filed June 8, 1965, Ser. No. 462,185 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-289) This invention relates to guidance attachments for tricycles by means of which tricycles may be guided from a position remote from the handle-bars thereof.

The difficultie-s encountered by an adult when attempting to guide and aid in the moving of the tricycle, particularly tricycles of small sizes, and when ridden by a small child, are well known. It is usually necessary to grasp the handle-bars of the tricycle in one hand and either pull or push the latter at the same time, given it some guidance. As the handle-bars of the smaller tricycles are very low, it is necessary therefore that one has to remain at a bent-over position, a position which is very awkward and tiring where the tricycle must be guided and moved for a considerable distance. It is also very annoying for the child who is riding on the tricycle as children usually like to feel that they are in complete command of the vehicle and are therefore wont to put up a fuss or struggle.

It is appreciated that tricycle guidance and moving apparatus has heretofore been devised. However, such apparatus has generally been unacceptable as it is cumbersome and bulky to transport and generally is designed so that it confines the tricycle rider and therefore is not at all suitable for obstreperous children.

The present invention provides a tricycle guiding apparatus which is inexpensive of construction and easy to affix to a tricycle, and which in no way confines the tricycle rider. The tricycle guider constructed in accordance with this invention is also adjustable in height so as to permit it to be used with tricycles of all sizes, and which is also adjustable in a horizontal plane so that it may be used to push or pull the tricycle dependent upon the circumstances then dictating its use.

The present invention comprises an elongated shaft, means at one end of the shaft to fixedly secure the latter in an upright position on the handle-bar of a tricycle, a laterally extending handle at the other end of the shaft whereby the latter may be rotatably secured to steer the tricycle, said shaft being long enough so that the elevation of its upper end is above that of the head of a rider seated on the tricycle.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention,

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a tricycle guiding apparatus afiixed to the handle-bars of a tricycle, and

FIGURE 2 is a view partially in section taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the handle-bars of a tricycle, while the latter not being shown as the form and construction thereof, is generally known.

The handle-bars 10 of most tricycles are usually formed of an elongated hollow or sometimes solid cylindrical rod having a relatively straight central portion 11, and laterally bent end portions 12 and 13 to which handles 15 and 16, respectively, are secured. To the central portion 11 and centrally thereof is usually secured a goose neck 18, the latter is rigidly connected to the front wheel, not shown, of the tricycle, not shown, which serves to transmi-t r'otative movement of the handlebars to said front wheel while the tricycle is steered.

A tricycle guider herein accorded the numeral for identification comprises an elongated shaft which, when affixed to the tricycle in the manner herein to be described, is usually positioned in a vertical position, This 3,336,048 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 ICC shaft is of two part telescopic construction having as its lower part an elongated cylindrical sleeve 22.

The lower end 23 of the sleeve 22 is connected, preferably by welding, a semi-cylindrical supporting member 24, said member 24 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve. If desired, said lower end 23 may be split longitudinally and the ends bent outwardly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve thereby forming a support similar to supporting member 24. It is contemplated that member 24 shall embracea-bly fit the central portion 11 of the handle-bar, consequently, it is intended that in the fabrication of guiders, in accordance with this invention, supports 24 having varied internal radii will be employed so that the guider shown has a member 24 compatible in size and form with the size and type of handle-bar to which it is to be secured.

The supporting member 24 is positioned centrally of the central portion of the handle-bars so that the sleeve extends vertically upwardly, and said support member is firmly secured to said central portion 11 by means of split ring clamps 26 and 27 which are circumferentially tightened by means of bolts carrying wing nuts 30.

At the upper end 32 of the sleeve which is split in the same manner as the lower end is secured an annular split collar 33. This collar is provided with a wing nut and bolt fastener 35 whereby it may be tightened in a known manner over the sleeve so as to compress the latter.

Slida-bly and rotatably joined to the sleeve 22 is a handle member 36, forming the upper part of the shaft 22. This latter member may be formed of a solid or tubular cylindrical rod 37 having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the sleeve 22. The rod 37 is bent at right angles at its middle length, one end portion 38 being inserted into the sleeve 22 so that the other end portion or handle portion 39 extends later-ally therefrom.

The end 40 of said handle portion may be provided with a rubber handgrip 42.

In the operation and use of the tricycle guider, the tubular sleeve 22 is first secured as described aforesaid to the handle-bars 10, and the end portion 38 of said handle 36 positioned within the sleeve 22 so that the handle portion 39 thereof extends above and is clear of the riders head. The handle 36 may then be firmly secured within the sleeve by tightening down the fastener 35.

It will be seen that the handle may not only be adjusted for elevation, but may likewise be rotatably positioned and secured to extend either rearwardly over the head of the tricycle rider or forwardly ahead of the tricycle. The tricycle therefore need not be grasped by handle-bars in order to steer it, but may be guided by appropriate horizontal rotation of the handle, the rigid connection of the sleeve 22 and the end portion 38 of the handle permitting said horizontal movements to be transmitted to the front wheel of the tricycle, whereby the latter may be steered.

It will also be seen that the tricycle guider constructed in accordance with the foregoing, does not in any way confine the tricycle rider as the handle 36 extends over his head, the handle portion 39 being sufficiently long enough so that when it is positioned so as to extend rearwardly from the handle-bars, the handgrip 42 is positioned rearwardly of the rider.

What I claim as my invention is: v

1. A tricycle guidance apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical tubular shaft open at one end, means at the other end of the shaft to fixedly secure the latter in an upright position on the handle-bars of a tricycle, an elongated handle element adapted to slidably and rotatably extend into the open end of the shaft at one end portion and being bent intermediate its ends so that its other end portion extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, said one end portion being long to permit the handle element to be slidably positioned in the shaft so that the elevation of the other end portion is above that of the head of a child on the tricycle, binding means at the open end of the shaft operable to fixedly unite the shaft and handle element whereby rotative movement of said handle element may be transmitted to the handle-bars to steer the tricycle.

2. A tricycle guidance apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical tubular shaft open at one end, means at the other end of the shaft to fixedly secure the latter in an upright position on the handle-bars of a tricycle, an elongated handle element adapted to slidably and rotatably extend into the open end of the shaft at one end port-ion and being bent intermediate its ends so that its other end portion extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, said one end portion being long enough to permit the handle element to be slidably positioned in the shaft so that the elevation of the other end portion is above that of the head of a rider on the tricycle, and binding means at the open end of the shaft operable to fixedly unite the shaft and handle element whereby rotative movement of said handle element may be transmitted to the handle-bars to steer the tricycle.

3. A tricycle guidance apparatus comprising an elongated cylindrical tubular shaft open at one end, a semicylindrical supporting member extending transversely to the shaft at the other end of the latter and adapted to embrace the handle-bars of a tricycle, means to clamp the supporting member to said handle-bars so as to rotatably secure the shaft to the latter in an upright position, an elongated handle element adapted to slidably and rotatably extend into the open end of the shaft at one end portion and being bent intermediate its ends so that its other end portion extends laterally from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, said one end portion being long enough to permit the handle element to be slidably positioned in the shaft so that the elevation of the other end portion is above that of the head of a rider on the tricycle, and binding means at the open end of the shaft operable to fixedly unite the shaft and handle element whereby rotative movement of said handle element may be transmitted to the handle-bars to steer the tricycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,742 7/1903 Patrick 74---551.8 1,620,223 3/1927 NOI'CIOSS 74557 2,672,351 3/1954 Kane 280-289 2,816,775 12/ 1957 Costello 280-289 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,729 10/ 1933 Germany.

116,487 9/ 1926 Switzerland.

KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TRICYCLE GUIDANCE APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL TUBULAR SHAFT OPEN AT ONE END, MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF THE SHAFT TO FIXEDLY SECURE THE LATTER IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ON THE HANDLE-BARS OF A TRICYCLE, AN ELONGATED HANDLE ELEMENT ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY EXTEND INTO THE OPEN END OF THE SHAFT AT ONE END PORTION AND BEING BENT INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS SO THAT ITS OTHER END PORTION EXTENDS LATERALLY FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SHAFT, SAID ONE END PORTION BEING LONG TO PERMIT THE HANDLE ELEMENT TO BE SLIDABLY POSITIONED IN THE SHAFT SO THAT THE ELEVATION OF THE OTHER END PORTION IS ABOVE THAT OF THE HEAD OF A CHILD ON THE TRICYCLE, BINDING MEANS AT THE OPEN END OF THE SHAFT OPERABLE TO FIXEDLY 